Cathy Lee Burson
FREDERICKTOWN — Cathy Lee Burson, 53, of Fredericktown died Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005, at her residence following a 10-month illness.

Cathy was born Feb. 25, 1952, in Mount Vernon to Harold Lloyd and Roberta Lee (Emery) Burson and had spent her lifetime in the Knox and Morrow County areas. She was a 1970 graduate of Mount Vernon High School and the Knox County Career Center and was 1970 class president at the career center. Cathy had been employed at the Mount Vernon Developmental Center, had worked as a private in-home nurses aide for mentally fragile children, was a foster to adopt parent for mentally fragile children, and had been employed as a senior accountant at Rockwell Automation. Cathy had also been a 4-H advisor.

Surviving are her daughter, Cassie L. (Sheets) Vilfer of Fredericktown; her sons, Jeremy L. Smith of Lexington and Justin L. Smith of Fredericktown; six grandchildren; and her sister, Carol Burson Heindel of Fredericktown.

Her parents preceded her in death.

Funeral service will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, where friends may call one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will follow in Amity Cemetery.

To view this obituary and to send the family an online condolence, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Robert L. Donelson
LOUDONVILLE — Robert Loren “Jake” Donelson, 75, of Loudonville died peacefully at his home Monday morning, Oct. 31, 2005, following a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born April 22, 1930, in Johnsville, the son of the late Clifford and Kathaleen (Shaffer) Donelson. On July 26, 1950, he married his high school sweetheart, Anna E. (Cover) Donelson, and she preceded him in death on June 7, 2003.

He was a 1948 graduate of Johnsville High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball. After a short time at Westinghouse Electric Corp. in Mansfield, he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps. He graduated from Ashland College in 1958 with a B.A. in education. After a short teaching stint in Florida, he returned to Ohio where he was hired “sight-unseen” over the telephone by the Loudonville-Perrysville Schools, serving every position from teacher to superintendent, sometimes coaching and driving school bus. In 1966, he took his first administrative position at the Perrysville Elementary School, where he developed a special bond between school and community. He earned his Masters of Educational Administration from the University of Akron in 1969.

During summer vacations from school, he worked at Sunshine Biscuit Co. Mill in Loudonville. He retired from Loudonville-Perrysville Schools in 1986 and began working for Harris Automotive and later was a salesman for D.J. Dix. He returned to his first love, education, when he went to work for the Clearfork Valley Local Schools from 1995 to 2001. His love of community led him to serve on the Loudonville Village Council from 1990-95. He served as treasurer of The Salvation Army and was a past chairman of the Mohican Area Community Fund. He was also a former member and past president of the Perrysville Lions Club, and was a member of Loudon Post 257 of the American Legion. In 1975, he received the Loudonville-Mohican Area Community Service Award. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Perrysville, serving as a deacon and an elder. Jake’s faith was evident through his love of all people, especially children.

He is survived by two sons, Robert (Gayle) Donelson of Amherst and Andy (Rita) Donelson of Mansfield; three daughters, Elise (Jim) Lingenfelter of Loudonville, Emily (Don) Iles of Wadsworth and Mary (Rick) Beans of Bellville; 14 grandchildren, Brittany and Brett Donelson, Drew, Lloyd and Ashlie Donelson, Loren Ann, Jimmy and Erin Lingenfelter, Anna, Evan and Neal Iles, and Jacob, Jared and Jordan Beans; and four sisters, Joyce Snavely and Doris Eckenrode, both of Mansfield, Nancy Murray of Ashland and Sharon Ickes of Wooster.

He was preceded in death by his wife; one brother, Paul Donelson; and one sister, Beverly Eckert.

He will be greatly missed by his family, especially his grandchildren, whom he cherished dearly. All those whose lives he touched will remember his giving heart and good nature.

Funeral service will be held Friday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, Perrysville, with the Rev. Eldon Trubee and Jeff Cooper officiating. Burial at a later date will be in Loudonville Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday, Nov. 3, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in Byerly-Lindsey Funeral Home, Loudonville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert and Anna Donelson Educational Scholarship, c/o Farmers and Savings Bank, 120 N. Water St., Loudonville, OH 44842; or Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1605 County Road 1095, Ashland, OH 44805.

James M. Holcomb
MOUNT VERNON — James McArthur Holcomb, 62, of Oberlin Street, Mount Vernon, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

He was born Feb. 1, 1943, in Squire, W.Va., to the late Ray and Wilma (Crawford) Holcomb. Jim was a lifetime member of the AMVETS Post 95 and the Eagles, both of Mount Vernon.

He is survived by his loving wife, Donna (Davis) Holcomb; eight stepchildren, William C. (Eleanor) Ott Jr. of Virginia, Richard (Connie) Simpson Jr. of Mount Vernon, John (Pam) Simpson of Utica, Cheryl Mizer of Mount Vernon, Carolyn Ott of Mount Vernon, Dixie (Steve) Bemiller of Mount Vernon, Donna Simpson of Mount Vernon and Regina Cotton of Fredericktown; 12 stepgrandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren; a brother, Donald Holcomb of Alabama; and a sister, Joyce Scott of Mount Vernon.

Friends may call today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, where a funeral service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Bruce Butler officiating. Entombment will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

This obituary may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Harriet B. Hutchinson
MOUNT VERNON — Harriet B. Hutchinson, 89, of Mount Vernon died Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, at Country Club Retirement Campus. The North-Dilley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Carl G. Jones Jr.
MOUNT VERNON — Carl G. Jones Jr., 80, of Westwood Drive, Mount Vernon, passed away Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

He was born Jan. 7, 1925, in North Wales, Pa., to Carl G. and Ruth (Cramer) Jones Sr. He was a member of the U.S. Army during World War II, where he served in the European Theatre of War and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Carl was a 1950 graduate of Ohio University, where he received his engineering degree and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He retired in 1989, after 27 years of employment, with Cooper Energy Services. Carl was an active member of Gay Street United Methodist Church and Clinton Township Water and Sewer Board. He also served on the hospital board of trustees in 1981 that was influential on the building of the new Knox Community Hospital.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Barbara (Jones) Jones; two sons, Carl G. (Deborah Hamilton) Jones III of Mount Vernon and Thomas (Susan) Jones of Novi, Mich.; a daughter, Judy Jones of Mount Vernon; three grandchildren, Darrin (Jamie) Jones, Keith Jones and Michael Jones; a great-granddaughter, Abbigail Jones; a brother, George (Barbara) Jones of Punta Gorda, Fla.; and three sisters, Betty Gilliam of Abingdon, Va., Helen (Charles) Baugh of Severna Park, Md., and Ann Kleinhans of Brighton, Mich.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Jones.

Friends may call Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Gay Street United Methodist Church, 18 N. Gay St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. The Rev. Dr. David Baker will officiate. The family will observe a private graveside service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Living Memorial Fund at Gay Street United Methodist Church. This obituary may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Marion ‘Butch’ Roberts
FREDERICKTOWN — Marion “Butch” Roberts, 64, of Zolman Road, Fredericktown, passed away Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, at his residence. The services will be under the care and direction of the Snyder Funeral Home, Fredericktown.